Georgia is widely regarded as the “Water Tower of the South,” reflecting its vast freshwater resources that supply much of the Southeastern United States. The state boasts over 70,000 miles of streams and rivers, along with a surface area of over 425,000 acres dedicated to lakes and reservoirs. However, assigning a single, accurate number to the question of how many lakes exist in the state reveals a complex challenge.
The Complexity of Counting Georgia’s Lakes
Determining a precise number for Georgia’s lakes is difficult because a standard, agreed-upon definition of a “lake” does not exist. The distinction between a large pond and a small lake is often arbitrary. For instance, a body of water might be considered a pond if it is less than one acre, but this size threshold is not universally applied across agencies.
The total count is further obscured by the volume of small, uncounted impoundments across the landscape. Surveys have identified thousands of dams in the state, with one analysis finding over 4,400 dams greater than six feet high. Many of these create small, private water bodies that are not included in official inventories of named, public lakes.
Natural Lakes Versus Man-Made Reservoirs
The vast majority of the large, named bodies of water in Georgia are man-made reservoirs, not naturally occurring lakes. The state’s underlying geology, characterized by a lack of glacial activity and fast-moving rivers, did not create the necessary conditions for large, deep natural lakes to form. The few genuine natural lakes in Georgia are generally small, such as solution lakes or oxbow lakes, mostly concentrated in the southern Coastal Plain.
The large “lakes” central to Georgia’s identity were created through engineering, primarily beginning in the early 20th century to meet growing needs for electricity and flood control. These reservoirs were formed by damming river valleys, often by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) or private power companies. The USACE manages many of the largest reservoirs, which were constructed for multiple purposes, including navigation, hydropower generation, and flood management.
Major Reservoirs and Their Economic Impact
The bodies of water most people recognize as Georgia’s lakes are the large reservoirs, which generate substantial economic activity. Lake Sidney Lanier, covering 38,000 surface acres, is located near the densely populated Atlanta metropolitan area. Lanier’s primary function is providing drinking water for millions of residents. The reservoir also supports thousands of jobs and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in local economic impact through recreation and tourism.
Another significant example is Lake Hartwell, which spans 56,000 acres along the border with South Carolina and is also managed by the USACE. Hartwell provides hydroelectric power, flood control, and water supply, while attracting residential development and recreational spending in the surrounding communities. Lake Allatoona, at 12,010 acres, is another USACE reservoir that serves a similar multi-purpose role, providing water to the northwestern part of the state and offering a recreational outlet.